IN his popular column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published in the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer, TERRY BUTTS, reveals how major changes are about to take place at the top of the Cairns Jockey Club.
Butts also reports on the annual general meeting that wasn’t an annual general meeting at Mackay where the Turf Club appears to be in all sorts of trouble.
Here is his column:
RQ ‘GOLDEN BOY’ RIDING INTO THE SUNSET FROM CAIRNS JOCKEY CLUB
SPECULATION has been rife for weeks that a change of guard at the Cairns Jockey Club is imminent – and apparently last week the CEO Graham Thornton, one-time ‘golden boy’ of Racing Queensland, has resigned along with at least one other office staff member.
“He’s gone,” was the message this column received on Friday, from a highly reliable source.
And several e-mails followed over the weekend with a similar message.
Current Chairman, John Piccone, has also declared he will not stand for re-election at the club's AGM next month. There is speculation his decision is a result of RQ’s recent refusal to allocate funds to repair the Cairns track.
Thornton has ruled Cannon Park like an emperor and, to be fair, resurrected the food and beverage and on- track entertainment to a level not known or enjoyed before.
He has had his run-ins with the media and licensees, who, it could be said, were treated at times with arrogance – on some occasions, contempt. He acted like a man on a mission and didn’t easily tolerate interference along the way.
Thornton will be remembered too as the bloke who stunned a few by allegedly wearing a pretty pink fascinator and a hammer tucked into his trousers on one of the popular Tradies’ Day meetings at Cannon Park.
He not only ruled the club, but his committees as well, according to one Cannon Park insider.
According to the same source, the re-emergence of former high flyer Tom Hedley in recent times might have precipitated Thornton’s decision to move on.
Hedley is said to have ‘been in discussions’ with the current Jockey Club committee and rumours abound that he is heading back to take a more active role in club affairs.
He was the club’s main stalwart before his substantial business interest involving hotels, bottle shops and unit developments around the nation faltered spectacularly 10 years ago.
It is also interesting to note that Thornton’s resignation came at the same time as an advertisement calling for tenders to supply the Cairns Jockey Club with catering supplies appeared in the local press.
THE ALL BUT INVISIBLE AGM CONDUCTED BY THE MACKAY TURF CLUB
WHEN is a turf club AGM not an AGM?
In Mackay it seems.
It was held last week but not a single vote was taken.
The financial report, which under the constitution must be in the hands of the committee six days prior to the AGM, was handed out the night of the meeting.
Only six committeemen turned up and the club treasurer apparently didn’t say a word.
Questions regarding finances were taken by three RQ executives in attendance.
What we do know is that the Mackay club still owes RQ $200,000 and will be told in next few weeks just how the money is to be repaid.
The meeting was also told it is not the intention of RQ to pursue the ‘missing’ hundreds of thousands of dollars that have been under investigation for the past few years.
Lou Kinsey, the acting President (the club has been under RQ administration in recent years), said he would not be standing for re-election but would be available for committee selection – if and when there is another AGM to sort that out – and to appoint a Chairman.
Imagine – this was one of the most financial race clubs in country Queensland 10 years ago.
And that’s not all. The club recently sacked its course curator, Brian Steindl, over an alleged exchange of words he had with an office girl. Trainers are said to be mightily upset and a move to have him reinstated is underway.
AN AMAZING WINNING COMEBACK AFTER 15 YEARS OUT OF THE SADDLE
COLIN Lennon kicked off his apprenticeship in Townsville with trainer Kelly Schweida.
He has been in a lot of different stables since those very early days and in fact concluded his apprenticeship with Max Standfield at Bundamba.
It’s been as life of little sunshine and lots of shadow and he admits he made a few mistakes along the way. Circumstances forced him out of the racing game 15 years ago.
But six months ago he returned to Townsville as a house painter and suddenly got the urge to ride.
On Saturday at Bowen, at his first race ride for 15 years, Lennon won on a maiden named Cobrunga Boy.
Amazing!
He said he pulled up a lot worse than the horse that led, was headed clearly at the furlong, but fought back and won by a head.
Trainer Olivia Cairns said he was so exhausted he couldn’t speak. “He didn’t leap out of the saddle – he just fell out of it”.
Col has been back riding track work a month or more and stewards have restricted him to the bush until he proves himself. His win on Saturday will no doubt accelerate his promotion to the major tracks and in the meantime he has sights set on Charters Towers Cup day on Saturday week.
Col was associated with former Cluden trainer Noel Chong many years ago and won races at the Gold Coast and at Cairns on Chong’s brilliant sprinter Earlwill.
DIFFERENT WAY OF ATTENDING CUP DAY – SAIL FROM CAIRNS TO COOKTOWN
CUP days at Charter Towers and Innisfail on Saturday week draw a close to the main winter carnival race days on the NQ country circuit – with the exception of one – Cooktown on November 7.
And again this year revellers and punters can choose the novel way of attending the popular race day in the far north. They can travel by sea aboard the Magic Reef which departs Cairns at 7.30am on race day and returns at 10.30pm.
A light lunch, calcutta and other activities are planned for the trip to the races where transport, admittance and a special marquee offering food and drink will be available.
The return trip, cruising home in the far northern sunset, offers dinner and a dance band. Bookings ($290pp) are essential on 049 8528 358 (after 6pm) and proceeds go to Cairns North Rotary.
COLUMN COURTESY OF TERRY BUTTS AND THE NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, one of Australia's leading rural newspapers.
TERRY BUTTS can be contacted by e-mailing: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
